Hitachino Nest: Sake Aged Beer

Sitting here watching the Texans on the Thursday nighter against Indianapolis. We are winning as type this, but we are looking incredibly sloppy on offense. Need to get this ish straight in time for the playoffs. Anyway, I picked up this beer in Montgomery, AL back in Thanksgiving last year. Looking forward to seeing how this thing turned out after a year or so in the house.

Hitachino Nest XH

Beer pours a caramel color with a nutty smell to it (no homo). Rather cloudy thick beer with a long lasting offwhite head. The taste is actually pretty flavorful, probably the most flavorful beer I've had from Japan. I'm getting something like a nougat and caramel flavor. Not bad, kind of a like a sweet amber with moderate bitterness. A good 45 seconds after I swallow the beer, I get a weird harsh bitterness out of nowhere. I'm hunting hard for that sake flavor but I think I'm getting it, but that could be power of suggestion. Otherwise, the beer is not bad and probably better fresh. I'll have to keep an eye out. Low 3 stars that goes up if I have it fresh. Well done for the Extra High Owls.

Grand Cru for the Grand Win

How bout them Houston Texans. One time for TJ Yates, Wade Phillips, Kubes, and the boys. So let's get a grand cru for the big win against the Dirty Birds.

Beer Log: Right now

State: Chilling out, voice and headache still recovering from the game, eating Pizza Hut Stuffed Crust

Green Flash Grand Cru

Pours a coco brown with a quickly dissipating head. The smell has roasted almonds and cherries. Taste is much the same, with plenty of caramel malt and something akin to oats (though a thin body). As it warms I get more of the hot alcohol and pepper. The beer seemed to congeal very well as it is complex yet very simple. More it warms I get that light roasty almond, something like bourbon, and low hop bitterness. Goes down very easy with its light carbonation, and if it wasn't for that alcohol coming out of it, you could accidentally drink a lot of this one. 4 stars.

Beer that makes you Thirsty? Chipotle Porter

Beer Log: Right now

State: Watching some Ultimate Fighter, foot-dragging on decorating the tree

Mikkeller Chipotle Porter

I always have a hesitation with pepper beers. I just don't get too jazzed about heat being in my throat (no homo) after drinking a beer. So this puppy actually stayed in our beer fridge for a couple years. Well here we go. Pour thick and smooth in my porter glass. Deep rich chocolate color and brown thick head. The nose has a great chocolate and coffee smell, but as it warms I'm getting something like pepper. The beer tastes just fine with the bitter chocolate powder, moderate roast, and moderate hops. Full bodied and low carbonation. I'm getting a little heat at the top of my throat that kicks up maybe 60 seconds after you drink the beer.

It's like as the beer residue and chocolate recedes, I'm left with hot pepper on my tongue and throat. Oh damn LSU is whippin up on the Dawgs! While I hate University(sic) of Georgia, I just don't want to hear everyone's mouth at the office when LSU goes to the BCS title game. Back to the beer, it feels like I drank some jalapeno juice and can feel it in my stomach. Otherwise, it works out very well. The pepper feeling does make me want to drink more, but just to kill that pepper. I guess that is just how Mikkeller gets down. Good for them. 3 stars.

Samichlaus Classic 2009 Vintage

Beer Log: Right now

State: Chilling out with the Misses watching The Soup

Got this one a couple years ago and aged it ever since. Been looking forward to this one for quite some time.

Samichlaus Classic 2009 vintage

Ruby color and I can smell the malt and alcohol from here. Nose has lots of caramel, cherries. Oh that's a like the sweetest beer ever. Lots of brown sugar, some cherries, bourbon. I'm thinking purple grapes. Kind of reminds me of those sweet liquors you get the club. It goes down pretty easily as well. This is like the ultra doppelbock. I get some of the peppery alcohol as well on your breath. Dammit I need to get a house with a back porch so I can get some cigars with this puppy. 4 stars. Not bad for the boys from Schloss Eggenberg. Looking forward to trying some more of their beer in the future.

Let's get some Draak

Beer Log: Right now

State: Just finished eating, had a Shiner Holiday Cheer as a warmup

Gulden Draak Vintage Ale 2010 by Br. Van Steenberge

Got this one some time last year. Looking forward to this one. Mmm, pours syrup sweet. Kinda like maple syrup, but the cheap stuff that just has "Syrup" on it. The beer seems to have a lot of carbonation coming out of this dark ruby colored beer. Oh but the taste. It starts out with a brown sugar and candy apple. Don't get used to the flavor when it is on your tongue, as it goes away fast. From there I'm left with something like chalk on my tongue and a slight dark cherry. The beer finishes very dry and leaves you wanted more.

Low hops (dare I say no hops?) or bitterness. Body is a little thin for my taste otherwise, not to mention that I get something like a vegetal sense (maybe they mixed in some pilsner malt). The finish is good at first but degrades and leaves you feeling a little off for drinking it. It's kind of like dating the hot young girl. It's fun at first but you know she leaving you in like 6 weeks and you'll have a hefty credit card bill waiting on you. Low 3 stars.

Dammit that IS a dragon with a Santa hat. I didn't know what that was at first, but it looks pretty badass now.

Texans Win with Leinart... Bitch Please

Beer Log: Right now

State: Eating baked salmon seasoned with Rock Salt, Rice and Broccoli. Watching Hell on Wheels.

Brewdog Bitch Please

The dawgs are at it again. And here we go... Deep brown color with a thin tan head in my Old New Orleans rum snifter. Nose has a huge caramel malt, pepper, alcohol, and something like sherry and smoke. Taste is heavily weight toward burnt wood or likely oak. I get some malt and alcohol in there but this is a wow beer on the flavor, typical of the Brewdogs. The more I sip it the more I get that charred oak with maybe something like whiskey. Either way there is plenty of strong sherry and sweet caramel. High octane beer all around, but a great sipping beer. If I could smoke indoors, I'd a cigar with it. Low 4 stars.

Oh, and you had to know this was coming...

It's the Most Wonderful time of the Beer

Sitting here today just incredibly butthurt over the last two weekend's sporting events. FAMU lost to Bethune Cookman with my BCU alum Mother-in-Law talking big ish the entire time while we were at the game in Orlando. Ga Tech just bent over and took it against U(sic)GA today. And Norfolk State just laid down in the playoffs representing our conference, pushing our MEAC conference even further to the back of the bus. Help us Matt Leinart, you're our only hope. Let's get some beer.

Gnommegang

A collaboration beer with Ommegang and La Chouffe. I love both of these breweries' beers, so I'm looking forward to this one. Nose has a light banana and sour candy scent to it. Tinged straw color and a pinch cloudy. Taste, oh lord yes. Big banana, green apple jolly rancher, and a pinch of peppery alcohol. Maybe it's b/c I'm upset about the foolishness of the football games, but this is fricken awesome. Upon more tasting I get a pinch more alcohol, but it works well. A great belgian blonde ale that if they told me was a trippel I would believe it. A little more complex with maybe something like reminds me of churros (of all things). I'm giving this one the big 5 Stars. All the way to the core, this beer hits the mark. If it weren't for the fact that there was a baby in this house, I'm talking about drinking this one by the case.